I had some ancient tooth sealants (with decay lurking underneath) sandblasted off of my back teeth today. What a novel experience that was. Also had an MRI of my leg that took twice as long as it should've because they couldn't find a vein to shoot the dye into (people, do you have any advice on how to get veins? Would weightlifting do the trick? I am getting desperate here). And (can you believe how many medical offices I visited today?), I had some way-overdue adjustments to my prosthetic limb. I am not joking when I tell you that the socket was hanging together with duct tape.
I am so grateful for health insurance. Mostly because without the funds to pay for such medical necessities I would've left this earth long ago.
I wish everyone had this same luxury.
PS: My cold/flu is nearly gone now and both kids' fevers broke yesterday. Praise cheeses.
PPS: I am so thinking of getting a hand crank wheat mill just in case a hurricane ever hits SoCal. :)
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C'est moi
I was raised Mormon, but now I'm a hippie Quaker living in the OC with my two teenage kids: CatGirl & GameBoy.
Twenty-six years ago I lost my right leg to bone cancer. Awhile ago I had an antibiotic-resistant infection in my lower left leg, and now I'm healing from surgery and feeling better every day.
I like gardening, making history, outrigger canoeing, trying new things, and my afternoon cup of tea.
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
~Christopher Robin, Pooh's Grand Adventure
Contact: remyjATucidotedu
Twenty-six years ago I lost my right leg to bone cancer. Awhile ago I had an antibiotic-resistant infection in my lower left leg, and now I'm healing from surgery and feeling better every day.
I like gardening, making history, outrigger canoeing, trying new things, and my afternoon cup of tea.
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
~Christopher Robin, Pooh's Grand Adventure
Contact: remyjATucidotedu
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8 comments:
The only advice I have for finding small veins is to make sure you are well hydrated. When I have blood drawn for labs, I usually have to fast. I used to think this meant no water as well. Since I've been making sure I'm hydrated, it has been easier to find a vein. :)
Uh, oh, I have those same sealants in my molars, more than 20 years old now. And I still have my wisdom teeth too.
The only dental work I've ever had done is one small cavity filled and one broken tooth fixed, and both of those were in my wisdom teeth. I credit fluoride in the water from growing up in So. Cal, but my wisdom teeth are softer because those came in later, in Utah.
I hope I don't have to pay my dental dues later in life...
And I have post-chemo bad veins too.
I am glad your family is on the mend, and am also grateful that you have health insurance so you can get the medical attention you need, because we all like you here on earth.
I know a really cool person who sells hand cranked grain mills...fyi...
sandblasted molars... ugh, that sounds lovely!
yay for breaking fevers and being on the mend!
velcro & duct tape are a quads best friend!
Hydration and heat. Try putting a heating pad on your arm for 10 min. prior to a blood draw, or have the lab wrap it with a warm cloth. I also use the gentle tourniquet technique, where I apply it just a hair less than I would on someone with big, poppy veins. For someone with shy veins, the very tight tourniquet makes things more difficult to find. Also, dangle your arm much lower than your heart, and most important, believe it is going to work and trust the phlebotomist.
Both of my arms are locked in a bent position. I always get blood drawn from the top of my hand. (sometimes my ankel or neck) I happen to know the World's Greatest Phlebotomist (that is how I ask for her at the desk). I go to her every 6-8 weeks. She is a one poke wonder. NO PAIN! Gets the vein first shot every time. So maybe try to get the same person who gets to know your veins. I got the number to the lab to call and make certain that the W.G.P is working. I too have to have an MRI with contrast in the near future. I have learned through experience that I let them know that I am a potencial problem before hand and request a phlebotomist that specializes in people with disabilities. There is such a thing. At least there is in my area, I hope that it is the same for you out in Cali.
Mozeltof to you about the good MRI!
For veins, weight lifting does help. A hot, wet towel wrapped around your arm for 2-3 minutes just prior to the poke. Keep well hydrated and calm. Scared veins hide.
I start IV's for a living:)
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